Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Patrik Arsenault, 27, most recently of Norridgewock, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. He was indicted on the charges on October 16, 2013.

According to court records, in June and July of 2013, the defendant, a former special education teacher, sexually abused three minors and recorded images and videos of the abuse. The defendant then sent recordings of the abuse of two of the minors, as well as other images of child pornography, to several e-mail trading partners. The defendant also received images of child pornography from his trading partners. On August 21, 2013, law enforcement agents seized a hard drive during the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. A forensic examination revealed videos of the defendant’s abuse of the two minors and over 7,500 images and 250 videos depicting child pornography.

“I would like to thank my agents for their tireless efforts, in pursuing those individuals who would use their position of trust to carry out these unthinkable acts”, said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston. “I would also like to thank our partners in the Maine State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit for their constant support and dedication in tackling these disturbing types of crimes.”

Arsenault faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison on the sexual exploitation charges, a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in prison on the transportation and receipt of child pornography charges, and up to 20 years in prison on the child pornography possession charge. He also faces a fine of up to a $250,000 on each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The investigation was conducted jointly by HSI, the Maine State Police, and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.